The Nerazzurri host Bayern at home on Wednesday night a goal to the good, and will be looking to deny both Muller and Kane their dream of a Champions League win this season.
Thomas Muller had a near-heroic moment for Bayern against Inter last week when he scored a late goal to bring the scoreline to 1-1.
What made it even better was that the German had come on as a substitute on the night. His goalmouth finish after Konrad Laimer’s cross summed up exactly what he has been about since he broke into Bayern’s first team in 2009.
The German announced earlier this month that he was leaving the club as they are unprepared to offer him a new contract due to his age. The 35-year-old has won two Champions League and 12 Bundesliga titles in his 16-year stay at the club.
It was almost poetic that it was the outgoing club hero, come from the bench, who would rescue his side from the rigorous Italian team. But it was not to be as Davide Frattesi scored just three minutes after to put Inter in front again.
Bayern’s departing hero would love nothing more than to wrap up his time at the club with a domestic and a European title.
Muller shares that dream with Harry Kane. The England captain is poised to win his first-ever trophy, with Bayern six-points clear at the summit of the Bundesliga and only five games left to play. A Champions League trophy and a league title in his first year of winning silverware? That would be quite the story.
The former Spurs striker has made it clear that it is his ultimate dream to be a Champions League winner. Speaking to ESPN early in April, the 31-year-old said: “It would be a dream [to win the Champions League]. It’s been a dream of mine pretty much my whole life.
“And we have the opportunity to do that this year, but also to do it at home in front of our fans, I think that would make it even more special.”
That dream took a hit last week when a disciplined Inter side – looking to reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons – came to Bayern’s back garden and walked away with a victory in their pockets.
The mind games began soon after, with Kane accusing the Nerazzurri of celebrating like they had already won the tie, a claim Inter firmly rejected.
The former Spurs forward has since waved off attention to the comment, saying at Tuesday’s press conference that it had simply been emotions running high.
“Maybe it was just in the moment then and the emotions after the game, maybe it felt like that a little bit,” said Kane. “I’m sure if we win tomorrow and go through, there would be a celebration for us. It’s football, it is what it is.”
It might still be possible for Muller and Kane to clinch the much-coveted trophy this season. But they would have to go through Inter Milan on Wednesday night to do it.
